My kids are a lot like me. They like their chocolate. And they, like me, like it everyday. It could be as simple as a bite of dark chocolate, broken off of a high quality bar, or the discarded crusts from a recently baked sheet of brownies. We do not discriminate when it comes to chocolate.
Often, when joining me at the grocery store, it is not abnormal that a little begging takes place for food items that my kids may see (and taste) from their friends lunch boxes or pantry’s. I’ve become immune to the constant “I wants” and play the “hard of hearing game”. In my quest to make almost everything from scratch, chocolate syrup has been on the list for sometime.
It is one of the most versatile staple items to have on hand. Pour it over ice cream for an easy, weeknight dessert, a few strawberries dipped into this silky mixture curbs ones craving upon first bite. My new favorite; a chocolate protein smoothie. It’s become our most favorite coveted after school snack. Throw in some flax seed oil, and we are all the healthier for it!
Homemade Chocolate Syrup
original recipe found here
yield 10 oz.
Note to self; next time, triple this recipe!
ingredients:
9 ounces brown sugar
4 1/2 ounces filtered water
1 1/2 ounces natural cocoa powder*
3/4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
3/4 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1/4 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
3/4 ounce pure vanilla extract (make my own)
instructions:
• in a medium, heavy duty stock pot, combine the brown sugar, water, cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate, instant espresso, and the Celtic sea salt.
• over medium heat, whisk ingredients until combined and the sugar has dissolved and the chocolate has melted.
• continue to cook, whisking constantly. when just boiling, remove pan from the stove and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
• whisk in vanilla and let cool completely before transferring to a glass jar.
• store in the refrigerator indefinitely.
* this is a really good article on the difference between cocoa powders. I highly recommend the read!
Chocolate Protein Smoothie
yield: 3 8 oz. servings
ingredients:
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup whole, organic milk
1/2 a banana
2 tablespoons protein powder
2 tablespoons homemade chocolate syrup
2 teaspoons raw honey
1 1/2 teaspoons flax seed oil
2 cups ice
instructions:
• throw everything, except the ice, into a blender or Vitamix. combine until completely mixed.
• add ice and mix until all the ice is crushed and combined.
• divide between 3, 8 ounce glasses.
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More Sweet Sauces around the web:
White Chocolate Creme Brulee Sauce – My Man’s Belly
Sour Cherry Rum Sauce – Recipe Renovator
Salted Butter Caramel Sauce - The Urban Baker
Sunday Toppings – What Kate Ate
Homemade Magic Shell – 52 Kitchen Adventures
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Susan, what a beautiful set of photos here! Scrumptious! Thanks for linking to my cherry sauce.
of course, Stephanie! Your site looks great!
Yum! The kid in me is so happy with this chocolate treat!
Just love smoothies like this! What a great way to start the day!
We must be kindred spirits because I need my chocolate every.single.day! Preferably dark chocolate.
Thanks for this incredibly simple recipe, Susan!
Yum and I love your photos!
Yum! What gorgeous smoothies
What a great recipe to keep on hand! It is so versatile and a simple way to add that extra touch. Can’t wait to try it in a smoothie!
I can’t thank you enough for posting this recipe. I have always eaten lots of whole foods but unfortunately, I have eaten just as many processed foods and now am trying to reverse that. And it’s tough with a 15 year old boy who is used to premade, convenient foods. (thankfully, he does eat lots of meat, fish, fruit & some veggies, too) But little by little, I am replacing processed with homemade and as much gluten free as possible. He loves chocolate syrup in smoothies and on ice cream so this is a Godsend!! Can’t wait to try it!
Hi Nancy, I too, have a teenager (14 year old boy) and he gets nothing processed at home. So, he goes to friends just to eat crap. It baffles me that people still feed their kids foods I cannot even mention. Once everyone realizes how easy it is to just make it at home, using whole ingredients, the world is going to be a much better place. Thanks so much for stopping by!
A totally dreamy chocolate recipe. Love homemade syrup + I too need chocolate every single day!
It all {homemade chocolate syrup AND the smoothie} sounds fabulous to me, and I’m sure my kids wouldn’t complain if I made this for their after school snack
A chocolate protein smoothie is the best of both worlds, you can indulge those chocolate cravings while fueling your body. Because you know I love my chocolate!
sometimes I sneak a bit of coffee in it. shhhhh…don’t tell anyone!
I just found your blog through DessertStalking and I love it. I could eat this syrup by the spoonful, nice photos!
Hi Sue, so nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by. Dessert stalking can be somewhat dangerous – don’t you agree!?
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